Total hip replacement (THR) is a therapy for the degenerative hip disease, also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis. THR is one of orthopedic surgery’s most effective and popular surgical procedures. Besides reducing pain and improving sleep, most individuals regain a variety of physical movement.
What basically happens to hip joint: Hip Joint is basically a ball and socket joint covered by cartilage. When wear and tear of this cartilage occur due to inflammation or infection, loss of hip joint makes a person unable to walk. After total hip replacement surgery, orthopaedician replace this ball and socket joint so that a person can walk and sit without pain.
Before undergoing the Total Hip Replacement, a patient must know the various risk factors that are associated with it:
- Infection from the prosthetic components is very rare. But if this happens, then by doing further surgery and antibiotics it can be cured of.
- A Blood transfusion may require as in any surgery, one can experience bleeding both during and after the procedure.
- The new part that has been added may not move as your normal one thus patient should be cautious while walking and sitting to prevent any dislocation.
The total hip replacement surgery involves the following steps:
- First of all, anesthesia will be given, general and regional to numb you down below the waist and keep you unconscious.
- Your hip joint will be exposed and the ball will be dislocated from the socket by the surgeon.
- The physician removes the femur’s head (thighbone) and removes the socket’s surface
- A prosthetic cup (socket) made of polyethylene is secured by the doctor.
- Then the surgeon secures a metalhead (ball) and stems either with a press-fit or bone cement into the femur.
- The doctor puts the ball in the cup and takes your fresh hip through a variety of movement to guarantee adequate stability and mobility.
- Your incision is closed by the surgeon and you are taken to the recovery room.
- After the surgery, Physiotherapy will be started from the next day to secure the mobility of new hip replacement. This therapy continues at home and may last for weeks to months after your surgery.
- Call the doctor/ortho surgeon if you face any pain in calf, thigh, and hip or develops a fever or infection.
